Nick got the same belated and choppy message in his ear, and by the time the transmission was over and he'd discerned what it said, the countdown read .
"Fuck!" Nick roared and turned to punch the nearest wall. He should have expected this- after all, only one of the other missiles launched had been meant for the United States and it was intended for only a single West Coast city. It was only logical that the last one would be pointed towards a major East Coast city. Still, if they didn't stop this, that was something Nick would blame himself for. A tragedy of this caliber on foreign soil was one thing, but the same in his home was entirely another.
He took deep breaths to calm himself, so that he would do no further to interrupt Stark's concentration. Washington D.C. There was something else to do with the city, something just at the corner of his mind, something important. He grit his teeth as he tried to remember what it could possibly be. Surely they would have got the president out as soon as possible, the congressmen, as many people as possible. But probably not enough. If they failed, if Stark failed, this was not going to be easy to handle.
The silence was shattered by a sudden loud beep and vibration from his Blackberry that actually made Nick jump. He stared down at a cryptic message from Wanda. What the fuck? he wondered, distracted. This wasn't the time for- oh. Oh. Wanda was in Washington D.C. with Steve at the Senate.
"Fuck," Nick repeated, in a whisper, and glanced up at the countdown.